Limited Government and Free Market Views in Delaware

CRI Turns Six Years Old

The Caesar Rodney Institute celebrates our 6th anniversary today. All of us at CRI cannot thank you enough for all of your support that has enabled CRI to reach this milestone.

The founders of CRI sought to create a Delaware-focused policy think tank to provide non-partisan, constructive, detailed appraisal of state policies and to provide solutions to Delaware public policy issues, particularly those related to the State’s economy. CRI was and remains unique in our mission, breadth and quality of research and analysis. Simply put, no one else does what we do.

From its inception CRI has focused on policies, not personalities; this has allowed CRI to provide independent analysis, sometimes resulting in CRI standing as the only group standing against a wave of conventional “wisdom.” The Bloom Energy debacle stands as one example of CRI providing prescient analysis to lawmakers, though they did not heed our predictions. Policy Director David Stevenson explained clearly how the Bloom project would cost you hundreds of millions dollars more in energy bills than was alleged and he has been proven correct. CRI’s John Stapleford correctly predicted the demise of the Fisker project and the loss of over $20 million in taxpayers’ cash based on his objective analysis of the risks and likelihood of success of Fisker.

Just as much as CRI cautions against ill conceived policies, CRI promotes policy solutions that will improve Delaware for all citizens. CRI has pushed for sound economic growth policies, like eliminating the tax paid by many businesses based on their revenue, regardless of profitability (the gross receipts tax is aptly named in every way).

CRI continues to educate policy makers about the need to make real education reforms, including eliminating paycheck deduction of union dues to free teachers from the state union orthodoxy, and more focus on improving education for Delaware’s students rather than protecting the status quo. The lack of a high quality public education system remains the biggest drag on economic growth, particularly in New Castle County, as families and businesses move to Chester County for better schools, taking their income tax, spending power, home purchase dollars, etc. along with them.

CRI has accomplished a great deal in six years, starting from a great idea and moving to reality and daily results. I would like to thank everyone at CRI: the staff, Board, and Advisory Board for all of their time and hard work that keeps CRI moving forward.

CRI has much more to do. We continue to need your help to continue our work. Please consider making a tax deductible donation of any size to CRI today by clicking here to donate. From all of us at CRI, thank you.